Five years ago, Charlestown High School had just 28 percent of its graduating class go on to college, vocational school or the military.

The mayor decided that could no longer be the norm.

"I realized we had to change the opportunities for our kids," said Mayor Bob Hall.

Meetings with school principals led to the formation of the Charlestown Excellence in Education Foundation and the setting of a new expectation.

"Every kid that comes through our community is going to have something to do when they are finished here," said Jonathan Jennings Elementary School principal Adrienne Bach.

CEEF works to advance academic opportunities and help with forward thinking. Even kindergartners know its catch phrase, "It's not if, it's where."

"A lot of our students talk about college. They talk about what they want to do after they graduate high school," said Charlestown Middle School Principal Karen Wesley.

That excitement can be seen in the numbers.

Perhaps the biggest part of CEEF is its recognition programs.

Banners list every senior who graduated with a plan.

CEEF's first year saw nearly double the percentage of seniors who went on to college, vocational school or the military.

The success continues.

This year, the foundation's fifth, hit 94 percent.

"It's not about the numbers. It's about every kid having an opportunity to live a productive life," Hall said.

"It's really gotten students attention. They don't want to be left behind. They want to be a name on one of the banners behind us. They want to be acknowledged for choosing some kind of college or career path," said Charlestown High School Principal Mark Laughner.

This year, CEEF took it one step further. Individual banners, hung on light posts around Charlestown, of those achieving graduates.